Joint for combination levels and squares



JOINT FOR COMBINATION LEVELS AND SQUARES Filed Dec. 50, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 L Jmmdl'n Earle C. Baldfon am new E. C. BALDON JOINT FOR COMBINATION LEVELS AND SQUARES Filed Dec 50, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3mm Earle C. Baldon May 22. 1928.

E. C. BALDON JOINT FOR COMBINATION LEVELS AND SQUARES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 50, 1925 gwvemtor Earle C. Bal don Patented May 22, 1928.

um c. BAIQDON, or xizoxvrina, rnnnnssnal mm FOR COMBINATION EVELS sonaimsa Application filed nec mbr so,"1925. Serial no, "mass.

Bricklayers, carpenters and. like mechanics have use for a spirit level and also a square,

and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a single tool convertible for use as a level or as a square, the primary ob ect a being to provide such a tool which is capable offolding in a small compass, easy to handle and carryas well as easy to place'instorag'e.

To accomplish this result, a further pur pose is to provide an improved jointfor connecting the sections ofthe tool, whereby the sections may be held in parallelism, or cent connected ends of two sections, showing in alignment end to end, or may extend in m the same direction and .ofiset laterally, 6r a section held at right angles to one of the ,othersections, whereby the toolmay be used {as asquare.

, A stillflfurther purpose is to provide. a :joint comprising the bifurcated ends of the ,sections of the square, .with a link engaged in the bifurcations, one end of the link being pivoted, the other end of the linkhaving a transverse slot to also receive a pivot .pin,

in conjunction with an adjustable screw for tightening the pin in the slot for holding the sectionsofthe tool invarious positions, gas

illustrated in, the drawings.

, of the tool.

Another purpose is to provide a plurality ofjoints for combination levels and squares, 1

thereby constructing a level or square consisting of a plurality of sections, preferably ofthree sections, whereby the intermediate section may be removed and the end sections connected to each other. It is obvious that the tool may consist of as many sectionsas y I V tions at ,right angles to each other but their may be desired, so as to provide a tool of this character of any length.

Still another purpose isto provide a joint tachable, so that asmany or asfew sections as possible may be used int-he construction It is to be the invention, any desired modifications of .detail and desiredproportions may be made in the apparatus according to the circumstances. a

The invention comprises further features shown in the drawings and In the drawings Figure 1. is a view in perspective of" a combined level and square, showing theisame constructed ofa plurality of sections folded in parallelism and illustrating the jointapplied and constructed in accordance with the invention.

i Figure Qis a longitudinal sectional view IllQl' especially the particular construction otthe linlcr which connects the sections. Figurelfi 1s a view of a combined evel and square, showing the same constructed in two sections folded in parallelism'land also illustrating, the "joint applied. Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view throughtthe joinedends of the two sections in-Figure 1,I.n0re "clearly showing the detail construction ofthe joint.

Figure 7 s a view showing the two sect1OI1SllIlf0lClCd and .111 alignment with each Figure 8 is a view of the twosections disposed at right angles to each other.

Figure 9 is a view with the sections exfrom theother. Figure 10 is a view-similar to Figured), showing the sections ofiset a greater distance than in Figure 9 i Figurell, is" a view showing the two sec tending in thesame direction but one offset ends connected in a different manner to that r f'the combined level and square as a whole understood that theparticulars herein given are in no way limitative and that, while ,still keeping within the scope of which maybe "constructed of any'suitable material, preferabl aluminum 'oran alloy metal. However, t etool may be Construct the square and level on a corner A cd in two or as many sectionsasmay be "desircd and ineither' case, the sections'may beof wood stock with their-adjacent connected ends? joined by plates, the plates being se cured to the endsof the wood stock.

The level and square consistsof a plurality .o'f sections 2, 3 and 4, the sections 2 and Y .3 beingemployed at the ends of the tool while the section econstitutes an intermediate element of the level and square. The sections are provided with elongated. openings 4 in w iich the hand of an operator may engage for handlingthe tool conveniently. The various sections carry double spirit levels 5 adjacent the joined ends of the sections and double spirit leveling glasses adjacent the remote ends of the sections, the latter spirit leveling glasses being disposed at right angles to those adjacent the joined ends of the sections for the purpose of plumbing variousobjects.

The adjacent ends of the sections 2 and 4 and the adjacent ends of the sections 3 and 4, as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, have relatively deep bifurcations 6 and 7. A link 8 is pivoted in the bifurcation 7 upon a transverse pin 9. The link at its end opposite the pin 9 has an elongated slot 12 which is L'-shaped. In other words, the slot 12 opens at the side of the link, as shown at 12*, and passing through the slot is a pin 13 .which passes transversely of the joined end of the section 2. The slot permits the link to have a sliding as well as a pivotal movement on the pin.

Threaded in one end of the link or coupling in a direction longitudinally of the slot is a screw 14 provided with a head 15, the screw acting toengage with the transverse pin 13 so as to hold the link or coupling in the various positions illustrated in the several views of the drawings, for the purpose of holding the sections in the positions illustrated. Obviously, as long as the screw is adjusted beyond the side opening 12 of the slot 12", it is impossible to detach the link from engagement with the transverse pin 13'. However, when the screw 14 is adjusted sulhciently from one end of the link so as to bring the end of the screw flush with the end wall of the slot and sufficiently out of the path of the. pin 13, the pin is capable of passing through the side opening 12" to allow the link to be detached, and when detached, it is possible to disconnect the several sections of the level or square and allow the two end sections to be con nected together. Obviously, as many sections as desired may be used In the square or level.

the section 3 has a bifurcation similar tov the bifurcation 7 in Figures 1 to 4 but substantially one-half the depthof the bifurcation 6. Also, in, Figures 5 to 11, inclusive, the link or coupling 8 engages both of the bifurcations. Figures 5 to 11, inclusive, show the intermediate section 4 re- .moved and the two end sections connected.

One end of the connecting link or coupling is pivotally mounted in the bifurcation 7 on a transverse pin. One corner of the link or coupling 8 in Figures 5 to 11, where it engages with the bifurcation 7, is rounded off, as at 10; so asto allow the link to pivot in one direction. in. the bifurcation or to permit the section 3 to pivot in one direction on the link, although it is possible in Figures 1 to 4 to move the various sections in either direction on their pivotal connections.

Referring to Figures 5 to 11, inclusive, it will be noted that the link has a transverse slot 12 in its end portion opposite theend which is pivoted in the bifurcation 7 and the pin 13. passes transversely of the joined end of the section, 2 and through the slot 12, so as to permit the link to have sliding aswell as pivotal movements. Also, in Figures 5 to 11, inclusive, a screw 14 with a head 15 is threaded into one end of the link and acts to engage with the transverse pm 1 3', so as to hold the link or coupling in various positions as illustrated in the several views ofthe drawings, for the purpose of holding the two sections (shown in Figures 5 to 11) in the various positions illustrated. It isobvious that by tightening up on the screw, it is possible to hold the sections of the level and square in their dilferent:

The screw also holds the two sections in.

parallelism or. in alignment or extending in the same direction but one. offset to the other, in which case the tool can be used in various ways. When the tool is used with the two sections in the same direction but ofiset, one section may be disposed upon the surface ofa wall or other object to see that it is level while one end of the other section may abut against a wall or that which is being leveled, so as to hold the tool in position as shown in one of the figures of the drawings.

When the two sections are in alignment end to end, the end of the section 2 is disposed so that ribs 16 on the joined end may engage grooves 17 on the joined end of the section 3 to insure holding the sections in alignment. A side face of the section 3- near its pivoted end has a transverse groove 18 which may engage with the ribs 16 when the two sections are disposed one at right angles to the other. hen the section 3 is arranged in the same direction with the section 2 but offset slightly, the corner of the section 3 engages the corner adjacent the ribs and in contact with the end face of the section 2, the ribs again acting in preventing lateral movement of the two sections relative to each other.

The head of the screw which is carried a.

by the link is provided with a plurality of openings 20, any one of which may receive a nail or other implement for the purpose of tightening the screw and holding the sections in their different adjusted positions.

It will be noted that the drawings show the various uses of the tool illustrating the sections in different relative positions.

The inventionhaving been set forth, what is claimed is:

1. A tool for the purpose indicated comprising a duality of sections, a coupling operatively connecting said sections and embodying a link having a pivotal connection with one of the sections and a movable pivotal connection with the other of Said sections, said link being provided with a takeup device to limit the movement of the mova le pivotal connection, and the sections being provided with interlocking means engageable upon the operation of said take-up device. 2. A joint comprising a pair of tool sections in end to end relation, the adjacent ends being formed with bifurcations, a link for pivotal mounting in the bifurcation of one of said sections and entering the bifurcation of the other of said sections, the last said section having a pin spanning its bifur cation and the link having an elongated slot engaging said pin, and adjustable means car ried by the link and bearing upon one side of the pin to move the pin-carrying section toward the other, both of said sections havthe actuation of said means.

In testimony whereof he aflixes his signature.

EARIiE o. BALDON. 

